Turret type reloading press



May 21, 1963 L. s. CORCORAN TURRET TYPE RELOADING PRESS 2 Sheets5heet 133 Filed July 18, 1960 INVEN TOR LYLE J. (mm/PAN May 21, 1963 L. s.CORCORAN TURRET TYPE RELOADING PRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July l8,1960 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,090,276 TURRET TYPE RELOADING PRESSLyle S. Corcoran, Los Angeles, Calif. (6116 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood28, Calif.) Filed July 18, 1960, Ser. No. 43,497 2 Claims. (Cl. 8633)This application in part is a continuation of my pending applicationS.N. 820,278, filed June 15, 1959, now U.S. Patent No. 3,054,322, forTurret Type Reloading Press. The general object of this invention is toprovide an improved and simplified form of turret type reloadingapparatus wherein a series of tools are carried by a turret at the upperend of the apparatus and are selectively adjustable to positions inalignment with the axis of the shell-holding carriage which is slidablevertically in response to lever actuation, to effect a series of shellreconditioning and reloading operations. For example, in reloading shotgun shells, the apparatus is adapted for use to successively decap andresize a bent shell, to then reprime the same, to then inject a load ofpowder into the shell, to then successively insert an over-powder wadand a filler wad, to then insert a load of shot into the shell andfinally to efiect successive stages of initial crimping and finalcrimping to close the end of the shell over the shot. The apparatus canalso be used for decapping and repriming a bullet cartridge, to insert aload of powder therein, to then insert a bullet, and to seat the bulletinto place closing the end of the cartridge.

The general object of the invention is to provide such a shell reloadingapparatus which is of simplified construction yet versatile in its uses.

A further object is to provide a turret type reloading apparatusembodying a construction that is compact, relatively lightweight, and ofminimal dimensions.

Another object is to provide such a reloading apparatus having means forreinforcing the turret when the apparatus is used for bullet-swagingoperations, and removable for other operations such as shotgun shellreloading, which do not require pressures of as high an order as thoserequired for bullet-swaging.

A further object is to provide an improved shell reloading apparatus ofrelatively compact arrangement and reduced dimensions, embodying animproved novel combination powder dispensing nozzle and decapping diepermitting both powder loading and decapping at a single station of theturret.

Another object is to provide such an improved combination powderdispensing nozzle and decapping die.

Another object is to provide a compact turret type reloading apparatushaving an improved starting crimp die such that shot-loading andstarting crimp operations can be performed in immediate succession at acommon station.

A still further object is to provide an improved starting crimp diehaving center relief which provides a more sharply defined pointstructure on the crimps that are placed in the ends of the shell.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the ensuingspecifications and appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a reloading apparatus embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the same;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the same taken on the line 44of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view taken longitudinally through the baseof the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a tool mounting mem- Patented May 21, 1963her of the apparatus as viewed from the front, with a set of shot gunshell reloading tools mounted therein;

FIG. 7 is a detail sectional view of the combined powder dispensingnozzle and decapping tool; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing my improvedstarting crimp die.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown therein, as anexample of one form in which the invention may be embodied, a shellreloading apparatus comprising, in general, a base A, a pedestal Brising therefrom, a tool head in the form of a turret C rotatablymounted on the upper end of pedestal B, a removable thrust bearing cap Dremovably attached through the upper end of pedestal B and providing anend thrust bearing for supporting the turret C against the reactionthrusts imposed thereon during the operation of the apparatus, acarriage E vertically slidable on the pedestal B; lever mechanism F formoving the carriage E upwardly and downwardly; a removable brace rodunit G for bracing the turret C in the use of the apparatus for bulletswaging operations; and suitable tools H (FIG. *6), adapted to bemounted in the apparatus for eflecting its various operations (e.g., ona shotgun shell I).

Detailed Description The base A comprises a foot portion 9 having one ormore apertures ll} (FIG. 4) for bolting it down to a bench or othersupport, a body block 11 projecting upwardly from the foot portion andan integral toe portion 12,-overhanging the forward end of foot portion9 and provided with an internally threaded vertical bore 13 (FIG. 5).

. The pedestal B may consist in a section of tubing having its lower endmounted in a cup or socket .14 in the rear end of base body 11 andwelded thereto as indicated; having a vertical keyway 15 in its rearside; having at its uper end a reduced cylindrical trunninon l6terminating in a threaded tip 17, having a bearing shoulder 23 at thebase of trunnion 16, and having a smooth cylindrical external wallproviding a bearing surface for the vertically slidable carriage E.

The turret C comprises a thick, rigid circular disc 21 having acylindrical central bore 22 through which the trunnion 16 extends with ajournal fit whereby the turret is rotatably mounted upon the pedestal B.The turret rests on the flat radial shoulder 23 defined by the upper endof pedestal B at the base of trunnion 16, and is thereby supported in aplane normal to the axis of the pedestal B. It is secured in thisposition by the cap D. The turret C isprovided with one or more radialhandles 24 secured thereto by threaded shanks threaded into radial bores25 (FIG. 1) in the cylindrical rim of the turret. The turret furtherincludes an integral ear 26 projecting radially from its periphery andprovided with a vertical bore 27 therethrough, positioned at the sameradial distance from the axis of pedestal B as the bore 13.

In the turret disc 21 are a plurality of internally threaded bores 28and 2? disposed on vertical axes at a common radius from the rotationalaxis of the turret, the apertures 28 being of a relatively largediameter and the apertures 29 being of a relatively small diameter.Apertures 28 are adapted to receive shotgun reloading tools and toolmounting dies, threaded delivery necks of devices such as powder andshot dispensers, etc. Apertures 29 are adapted to receive tools havingthreaded shanks of smaller diameter, such as bullet decapping, reprimingand swaging tools and dies, etc.

The cap D comprises a substantially cylindrical skirt 31 which isinternally threaded to mate with the thread of pedestal tip 17, and acrown portion 32 which has a central threaded bore into which isthreaded a set screw 33. Set screw 33 may be tightened against the upperend of the solid threaded tip 17 to lock the cap D in any position towhich it may be adjusted by rotating it on its threaded connection withpedestal tip 17, thereby to adjust the end face of skirt 31 to aposition where the turret C is snugly embraced between said end face andthe shourder 23 without being clamped, i.e. remains freely rotatable butrestrained against tilting with respect to the axis of pedestal B.

The carriage E comprises a cylindrical collar 35 through which isthreaded a screw type key 36 that has a tip engaged in the keyway 15 tomaintain the carriage E in a properly oriented position with respect tothe pedestal B. On its forward side, as thus oriented, the carriage Ehas an integral seat 37 which is provided with an internally threadedvertical bore 38. In the base body 11 is a threaded bore 55 which iscoaxial with the threaded bore 38 of carriage E.

Lever mechanism P: On respective sides of the seat 37 and projectingtherebelow, are a pair of bosses 39 which are aligned on a horizontalaxis transverse to the vertical axis of bore 38. Pivoted on therespective ends of a pivot pin 40 extending through and projecting fromthe respective bosses 39 at the respective sides of the carriage E, area pair of connecting links 41 of bar form. Extending through the forwardportion of the base body 11, parallel to the pivot pin 4%), is a fulcrumshaft 42 having, in one or both ends thereof, a radial socket or sockets43 (FIG. 3) in which is mounted the lower end of an operating handlelever 44. Extending through another pair of bores in the fulcrum shaft4-2, subtending an angle of approximately 120 relative to the handlelever 44, are the integral shanks 45 of a pair of bifurcated crank arms46. The lower ends of links 41 are received between the furcations ofthe respective arms 46 and are pivoted thereto by pivot pins 47.

Handle lever 44 and crank arms 46 are secured by fastener screws 48 eachhaving a relatively short threaded portion secured in a threaded bore inthe outer end of a respective projecting end portion of fulcrum shaft42, and each having a smooth stem portion 49 which extends into a crossbore in a respective crank arm shank 45, aligned with the axis of thefulcrum shaft 42. On the side where the crank handle 44 is located, thestem 49 also extends through a similar cross-bore in the end of lever44. Thus a single fastener screw functions to pin both the handle leverand the crank arm to a respective end of the fulcrum shaft 42. Byremoving the screw 48, the hand lever 44 can be shifted to the oppositeend of the fulcrum shaft 42 if desired.

In the lower limit position of the carriage E, shown in FIG. 1, thehandle lever 44 extends upwardly with a slight forward inclination, thecrank arms 46 project rearwardly with a slight downward inclination, andthe links 41 are inclined upwardly and forwardly as shown. By moving thehandle lever 44 downwardly and forwardly through an angle of 60 or more,the crank arms 46 will be elevated to positions of a fairly steep upwardand rearward inclination and the links 41 will be elevated tocorresponding positions of quite steep upward and forward inclination,elevating the carriage E to a position approaching the underside ofturret C as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1. From this approachposition, the carriage E can be further elevated a relatively shortdistance, and during this final movement, the crank arms 46 and links41, with a toggle action, will develop a relatively high pressurederivative of the couple forces transmitted by the crank arms 46, as thecrank arms 46 and links 41 approach alignment. This high pressure stageof actuation of carriage E is utilized for the decapping, shell crimpingand bullet swaging operations which require higher forces than the otheroperations. For bullet swaging operations, the pivot pins 47 can beremoved and the lower ends of links 41 can be attached to crank arms 46in close coupled relation by inserting the pins 47 in apertures 47 inthe forks of crank arms 46, at approximately half the radial distance ofthe pivots 47 from the axis of fulcrum shaft 42 in the outer positionsthereof shown in FIG. 1. With the links 41 in the closer coupledrelation, they will extend nearly vertically in the lower positions ofcrank arms 46 and the carriage E will therefore have a lower limitposition which is considerably higher than that shown in FIG. 1; itstotal range of vertical movement will be just a little more than halfthat which it has in the normally coupled arrangement of links 41 shownin FIG. 1; and its upper limit position will be lower than the upperlimit position of its normally coupled operation.

The brace rod assembly G comprises a rod 51 having respective threadedends 52 and upper and lower lock nuts 53 and 54 threaded thereon. Thelower threaded end 52 is adapted to be threaded into the internallythreaded socket 113 of the toe portion 12 of the base A and lockedtherein by the lock nut 54. The upper end of the rod 51 is adapted to beextended freely through the bore 27 of turret car 26 with the upperthreaded end 52 projecting thereabove and the nut 53 threaded onto theupper threaded end 52 until it is snugly seated against the upper faceof car 26 but without straining the same.

The invention is particularly characterized by the relatively smalldiameter of the turret disc 21, the closely grouped arrangement ofopenings 28 and 29 relatively close to the turret axis, and the car 26which projects a substantial distance beyond the periphery of turretdisc 21 so as to locate the axis of brace rod assembly G sufficientlyaway from the tool axis (the common axis of threaded bore 38, 28, 29,55) to provide ample radial spacing for manipulation of tools and workin the space between the brace rod 51 and the pedestal B. Thisarrangement also provides for the location of the axes of the pedestalB, the tool axis and the rod 51 in a common axial plane, with thepedestal B and brace rod 51 located on diametrically opposite sides ofthe tool axis during high pressure operations such as bullet swaging.Thus the reaction loads provided by the pedestal B and brace rod 51during the application of high pressure between turret 21 and carriageE, are balanced with respect to the tool axis 38 so as to avoid anypossibility of canting of the turret 21 in the space between pedestalshoulder 23 and cap 31, regardless of the extent of pressure that isapplied between the tools and the work.

Operating tools H: FIG. 6 illustrates schematically an array of toolsmounted in base A, carriage E and turret C respectively, such as may beused for a reloading operatlon on a shot gun shell I. Such tools mayinclude a shell holder having a threaded shank 61 for threaded receptionin the bore 38 of seat 37 of carriage E; a priming rod 62 having athreaded shank 63 for mounting the same in the threaded bore 55 of baseA; a plurality of dies 64, 67, 70, 71 externally threaded for mountingin the threaded openings 28 of turret G and internally threaded forreception and mounting of respective tools; a combined resizing die,decapping stem and powder nozzle 66, embodied in the lower end of die 64at a first station; a powder dispenser 65 mounted in the upper end ofthis same die; die 67 being a wad holder located at a second station andhaving a mouth 68 for insertion of wads thereinto; a shot dispenser 69mounted in the upper end of die 70 at a third station; die 70 being aninitial crimp die; and die 71 being a final crimp die, located at afourth station.

Combined powder nozzle and :decapping unit 66 (FIG. 7 is of novelconstruction and has the improved function of making it possible tolocate the powder dispenser 65 and the decapping unit at the samestation, thus requiring only four of the large openings 28 in turretunit G. The diameter of the turret disc 21 is correspondingly reduced,the radius of the openings 28 and 29 is closer to the turret axis, andthe reaction forces developed in the turret, tending to tilt it awayfrom its proper position, are of correspondingly lower intensity.Referring now to FIG. 7, for a detailed showing of unit 66, it comprisesa tubular powder nozzle and sizing body 75 formed integrally with andprojecting downwardly from the die 64, constituting the head portionthereof, and having an integral cylindrical skirt 76 projectingdownwardly from said head portion in spaced coaxial relation thereto,having a male thread for reception in a threaded bore 28 of turret body21; having a conical bottom member 77 provided with three powderdispensing apertures 78 extending downwardly therethrough with a slightoutward flare; and having an integral decapping stem 79 projectingdownwardly from the apex of the bottom member 77. The nozzle body 75 isof the proper diameter to snugly enter a shot gun shell so as to resizeit and seal the open upper end thereof while powder is being dischargedinto the shell; and so as to permit the decapping stem to movedownwardly through the head of the shell to force out the spent primercap of a discharged shell that is to be reloaded. Skirt 76 receives theshell with an external sizing action. The open upper end of tubularnozzle body 75 communicates with the discharge throat in the lower endof the powder dispenser 65, the latter being mounted with its lower endthreaded into an internally threaded socket in die 64.

The starting crimp die 70 (FIG. 8) likewise has improved novel features.It comprises a shank 81 which is externally threaded for mounting in aturret bore 28, and internally threaded to receive and mount the neck ofshot dispenser 69; a cylindrical skirt 83 to receive the upper end ofthe shell; and a star-crimp die ring press-fitted in the upper end ofskirt 83. Ring 84 has jaws 84 radiating downwardly and outwardly infrusto-conical array from the lower end of a shot delivery opening 82.The inner ends of the jaws 84' are defined by saw tooth portions of thewall of opening 82 at the lower end thereof, and the jaws are of maximumdepth at these ends and are feathered to points at their outerextremities in accordance with conventional practice. The openingbetween the inner ends of the jaws 84' accommodates the innerextremities of the crimps that are impressed into the upper end of thecylindrical shell wall as it is partially closed by the crimping die.The inward points of the crimps in the shell wall thus avoid beingblunted by contact with a closed crown which is a customary occurrencein crimping dies of the closed type. I find that by thus avoiding theblunting or rounding of the points of the crimps at the center of theclosed end of the shell, that the final closing operation which isperformed by the closing die (it may be conventional) produces a cleanerand tighter closure of the end of the shell, the points of the closedend of the shell coming together in a more sharply defined interfittingrelationship.

The apparatus provides the further improvement of a starting crimp die70 which has the bore 82 functioning both to provide relief at thecenter of the crimping jaw structure, and, in addition, to provide anozzle through which shot may be loaded into a shell. It also providesfor the coaxial mounting of the starting crimp die 70 and the shotdispenser 69 in the same bushing so that a shot loading operation may beimmediately followed by a starting crimp operation without requiring anindexing movement of the turret.

Another improvement embodied in the starting crimp die 70 resides in itsone piece investment molded tool steel structure of die ring 84.Initially it is investment molded as a single casing of annealed toolsteel, using dental molding techniques (such as the lost-wax-plastermold process). After molding, the die is hardened and tempered and isthen perpiherally ground with a true cylindrical periphery for accurateconcentric mounting counterbore sleeve 83.

Operation To illustrate the operation of the apparatus, the steps ofreloading a shot gun shell, using the tooling setup shown in FIG. 6,will now be described. The shell I is inserted into the holder 60 withits head flange engaged bythe jaws of holder 60. The primer cap isinserted over the tip of primer rod 62. Grasping one of the handles 24,the turret is then rotated to station No. 1 where the combined powdernozzle and decappingunit 66 is located on the tool axis immediatelyabove the open upper end of shell I. At this point it may be noted thatin order to save space, the various parts of FIG. 6 are shown invertically telescoped relationship, closer than in the actualspacingwhich may be seen in FIG. 3. The handle lever 44 is held in a partiallyraised position to position the carriage E in an intermediate positionclearing the primer rod 62. In the first operation, the handle 44 islowered to raise the carriage E causing the decapping stem 79 and powdernozzle 75 to enter the shell A, the nozzles 75 and skirt 76 resizing theshell, and the stem 79 punching the spent primer cap downwardly out ofthe shell and dropping it through the shank.61 of holder '60, said shankbeing tubular. With the turret still at the No. 1 station, the handlelever 44 is then raised to move the carriage E downwardly over therepriming stem 62 which pushes the repriming cap upwardly into theaperture in the head of the shell, and sets it therein. The operatorthen raises the carriage E back 'to the raised position inwhich theshell I is telescoped over the powder nozzle 66. The powder dispenser 65is then actuated to discharge .a measured charge of powder downwardlythrough the nozzle 66 and through the apertures 78 thereof into theshell. The carriage E is then moved back to the neutral or intermediateposition and the turret G is then indexed to station 2 (shown in FIG. 6)in which the wad holder sleeve 67 is located at the tool axis. Anover-powder wad is then insented into the holder 67 through the mouth 68and the carriage E is then raised to cause the wad to be pusheddownwardly into the shell and against the upper surface of the powdercharge with the right amount of compression as provided for by aspring-loading plunger (not shown) of the wad holder unit 67.

The carriage E is then moved back toward the neutral positionsufficiently to permit the insertion of a filler wad through mouth 68into the holder 67 and the carriage is again raised, with gentlepressure this time just sufiicient to seat the wad against theover-powder wad, but without compressing the filler wad.

The carriage E is then moved back to the neutral position and the turretis indexed to station 3, bringing the shot dispenser 69 and startingcrimp die 70 to the tool axis. The carriage E is then raised gently toinsert the upper end of shell I into the die 70 (here functioning as aloading nozzle) and the shot dispenser 69 is actuated to discharge aload of shot through the die 70 into the shell.

As soon as the charge of shot has dropped into the shell, the carriage Eis moved further upwardly under sutficient pressure to crimp its upwardend against the crimping jaws 84 of the starting crimp die 70. Thenecessity for shifting either the turret or the carriage to a newposition between the shot loading and starting crimp operations is thuseliminated.

The carriage E is then moved back to the neutral position and the turretG is rotated in a final indexing movement to station 4 which brings thefinished crimp die 71 to the tool axis. The carriage E is then forcedupwardly forcing the upper end of the partially crimped shell I intofinished crimp die 71 (of conventional construction) and against thecrimping jaws thereof to flatten the crimped end of the shell into afiat end wall wherein the points of the crimps come together at thecenter in a star pattern of improved geometrical regularity and with theaperture closed right up to the center thereof, due to the improvedpointing of the crimps which has taken place in the starting crimp die70. This completes the reloading operation. The carriage E is then movedback to a neutral position and the finished shell I is removed from theholder 60.

I claim:

1. In a shell-reloading apparatus, in combination: a support; a turretrotatably mounted on said support and having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced vertical tool-mounting bores the axes of whichare located at a common radial distance from the axis of rotary indexingmovements of said turret; a combined powder-delivery nozzle andshelhresizing and decapping tool comprising a die mounted in one of saidbores, said die having in its upper end an internally threaded socketfor mounting the lower end of a powder dispenser therein, a cupshapedpowder-delivery nozzle integral with and projecting downwardly from thebottom of said die, having an open upper end communicating with saidsocket for receiving powder from said dispenser, having a cylindricallateral wall for internal sizing of the shell, and having a downwardlytapered bottom provided with powder-delivery apertures, a decapping stemsecured to and projecting downwardly from the center of said nozzlebottom, and a cylindrical skirt integral with and projecting downwardlyfrom the bottom of said die at the periphery thereof and spaced radiallyoutwardly from said cylindrical outer nozzle wall by a cylindricalannular space adapted to receive the lateral wall of the shell, saidskirt having an internal cylindrical wall for external sizing of saidshell.

2. A combined powder delivery nozzle and shell reloading apparatus,comprising a die having an external male thread for mounting the tool ina threaded bore in a support, said die having in its upper end aninternally threaded socket for mounting the lower end of a powderdispenser .therein, a cup shaped powder-delivery nozzle integral withand projecting downwardly from the bottom of said die, having an openupper end communicating with said socket for receiving powder from saiddispenser, having a cylindrical lateral wall for internal sizing of theshell, and having a downwardly tapered bottom provided withpowder-delivery apertures, a decapping stem secured to and projectingdownwardly from the center of said nozzle bottom for decapping the shellsimultaneously with said internal sizing, and a cylindrical skirtintegral with and projecting downwardly from the bottom of said die atthe periphery thereof and spaced radially outwardly from saidcylindrical outer nozzle wall by a cylindrical annular space adapted toreceive the lateral wall of the shell, said skirt having an internalcylindrical Wall for external sizing of said shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS711,870 Klinger Oct. 21, 1902 2,004,420 Siebert et al June '11, 19352,091,397 Shockey Aug. 31, 1937 2,352,549 Johnson et al. June 27, 19442,550,973 Corcoran May 1, 1951 2,819,644 Corcoran Jan. 14, 19582,865,244 Doyle Dec. 23, 1958 2,916,960 Rozzelle Dec. 15, 1959

2. A COMBINED POWDER DELIVERY NOZZLE AND SHELL RELOADING APPARATUS,COMPRISING A DIE HAVING AN EXTERNAL MALE THREAD FOR MOUNTING THE TOOL INA THREADED BORE IN A SUPPORT, SAID DIE HAVING IN ITS UPPER END ANINTERNALLY THREADED SOCKET FOR MOUNTING THE LOWER END OF A POWDERDISPENSER THEREIN, A CUP SHAPED POWDER-DELIVERY NOZZLE INTEGRAL WITH ANDPROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID DIE, HAVING AN OPEN UPPEREND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SOCKET FOR RECEIVING POWDER FROM SAIDDISPENSER, HAVING A CYLINDRICAL LATERAL WALL FOR INTERNAL SIZING OF THESHELL, AND HAVING A DOWNWARDLY TAPERED BOTTOM PROVIDED WITHPOWDER-DELIVERY APERTURES, A DECAPPING STEM SECURED TO AND PROJECTINGDOWNWARDLY FROM THE CENTER OF SAID NOZZLE BOTTOM FOR DECAPPING THE SHELLSIMULTANEOUSLY WITH SAID INTERNAL SIZING, AND A CYLINDRICAL SKIRTINTEGRAL WITH AND PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID DIE ATTHE PERIPHERY THEREOF AND SPACED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAIDCYLINDRICAL OUTER NOZZLE WALL BY A CYLINDRICAL ANNULAR SPACE ADAPTED TORECEIVE THE LATERAL WALL OF THE SHELL, SAID SKIRT HAVING AN INTERNALCYLINDRICAL WALL FOR EXTERNAL SIZING OF SAID SHELL.